specify

verb

spec·​i·​fy ˈspe-sə-ˌfī 

specified; specifying

transitive verb

1

: to name or state explicitly or in detail

2

: to include as an item in a specification

specifiable

ˌspe-sə-ˈfī-ə-bəl 

adjective

specifier

ˈspe-sə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

• define
• prescribe

Examples of specify in a Sentence

Can you specify the cause of the argument?

Specify the color and quantity when you order.

He clearly specified California wine.

The instructions do not specify what kind of screws to use.

All subscriptions are for one year unless otherwise specified.

At the specified time, we rang the bell.

She agreed to the terms specified in the contract.

Recent Examples on the Web

These policies should address potential misuse, specify acceptable use cases and delineate accountability, especially given the varied regulatory landscapes across regions. —Rob Green, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025

The airline will begin daily service from Seattle to London, though the carrier did not specify a date, and tickets are not yet on sale. —Zach Wichter, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025

The cruise line reportedly did not specify what caused the outage or what repairs were necessary to fix the issue. —Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 4 Aug. 2025

Karp did not specify if the company would lay off employees to achieve his ideal headcount. —Samantha Subin, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English specifien, from Anglo-French specifier, from Late Latin specificare, from specificus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing specify

• pre-specify

Rhymes for specify

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify

Kids Definition

specify

verb

spec·​i·​fy ˈspes-ə-ˌfī 

specified; specifying

1

: to name or mention exactly and clearly

specify the cause

2

: to include in a specification

specify oak flooring